Friday, October 30, 2026

UPDATE: TENANT INFORMATION

SIREG BANKRUPTCY - WHAT TO DO AS A TENANT

 1. Who Do You Pay Rent To?

  • Do not pay rent in cash to random individuals: Because SIREG's guaranteed rent program collapsed, individual unit owners (investors) may knock on your door demanding you pay them directly.
  • Demand official documentation: Legally, you do not have to redirect your rent payments until you receive official, written notice from either the Court-Appointed Administrator (Brian M. Antman) or an official Notice to Tenant from a lawyer proving the unit's true ownership has changed hands.
  • Keep your rent safe: If you are unsure who the legal payee is, do not withhold your rent entirely, as this can give a landlord grounds to evict you later. Instead, set the rent money aside in a separate bank account so you can pay it the moment the administrator or the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) provides clear, written direction.
2. Maintenance and Vital Services
  • Your right to vital services: Under Ontario law, it is illegal for a landlord or a condo board to shut off vital services like heat, water, electricity, or hot water, even during a bankruptcy.
  • The London Hydro Debt: Because SIREG owes London Hydro $212,000, the city is actively involved. If London Hydro threatens a disconnection, or if your heat/elevator remains broken, contact the City of London Property Standards department immediately at 519-661-4660. The city has the power to intervene, issue emergency orders, or step in to ensure vital utilities remain on.
3. Eviction Protections
  • Bankruptcy does not end your lease: A change in property management or an investor's financial distress does not cancel your tenancy. Your lease automatically transfers.
  • Only the LTB can evict you: An investor cannot simply tell you to leave because they are losing money or losing the property to the bank. An eviction is only valid if it comes via an official N-series form from the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) and is followed by a formal hearing.
4. Critical Next Steps & Resources
  • Document everything: Keep a meticulous paper trail. Take photos and videos of maintenance issues (broken elevators, lack of heat). Save every text message, email, or written note from anyone claiming to own your unit.
  • Get local tenant support: Reach out to local legal clinics for free advice tailored to the Kipps Lane crisis:
    • Neighborhood Legal Services (London & Middlesex): Call 519-438-2890 for free tenant legal advice.
    • London Tenant Association / Advocacy Groups: Connect with local tenant networks on the ground at Kipps Lane to coordinate responses, as many of your neighbors are dealing with the exact same landlords.
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